Fossils, Gemstones and other interesting sites in canberra

In Wee jasper there are some places that you do not need to ask, however it is recommended that you ask the property owner lest they mistake you for a revenueer and try to shoot you.

I don’t. And I said protected sites. There is a difference you realise?

however it sounds as if you advocate removing material from protected cultural sites?

I surely hope not.

aaargh!

what I meant is, do you know of any places that you can go to to find fossils, gemstones or just pretty rocks that won’t have an impact on any known cultural sites, understanding that some may or may not be protected, so that there will not be a case where we hear of someone taking a jackhammer to a particularly good example of australian pre-history?

lets forget the fossils. what about gemstone sites?

That’s a rather irrelevant question as any protected cultural site can be damaged given there is no physical security.

Remember I am talking protected sites, not just good sites to fossick or dig up the odd fossil.

And if it is protected then frankly no-one should be removing cultural material.

humor me. what sites do you know of that are good to fossick or dig up the odd fossil, and don’t impact any cultural sites?

Nah, I was just pointing some things out 😉

I’d hate to see sites ruined by over zealous collectors.

Not that I think anyone here would be over zealous.

okay thumper, what sites are you aware of that people can go to and collect “samples” without damaging potential cultural heritage sites?

I am not over zealous, I only have 1 shed full of rocks for cutting.

Is this going to be a long-argument between Thumper and peterh about on-paper protection for cultural heritage versus actual physical security of the sites?

Lets skip a few pages here, children.

When fighting against a non-zero chance to make a successful assault on a target and an infinite timeframe, the defender always loses. It just becomes a question how long until they lose, unless you’re willing to escalate the game to the point that attackers no longer bother.

Also Durres is a protected Indigenous site, being that it is one huge midden.

So don’t take the artifacts kiddies, even though they strewn all around the place.

if you go around the headland, can’t remember what it is called, towards depot beach, there are heaps of fossils strewn around at the base of the cliff. Durras itself has some old sea caves – good for a bit of a look, but mainly used by incontinent kids, it really stinks in a couple of them.

Woolshed Creek silurian site is protected. It is on the Register of the National Estate

Itis unique, not only to Australian geologists and public, but also internationally as it is the first place in Australia where Silurian fossils were recognised and described.

The site is also excellent for illustrating special geological relationships and structures, including the disposition and numbers of the fossils and their relationships to the marine sedimentary rocks in which they were found.

So look but don’t touch 😉

nth durras has very good examples of bivalves and other shells, depot beach has petrified wood, caused by the big volcanic episode, pebbly beach is covered in semi precious pebbles. Agate, Carnelian and quartz and some others, I have even seen a piece of australian Jade, lighter than the asian varieties.

you will need a fossicking license for these sites, The rangers aren’t very understanding.

ant said :

Woolshed Creek fossils are from teh same reef/source as my fossil! And yes, they’re there. Tehy put chicken wire over them many years ago. They stick up out of the creek bed.

Thanks, Peter@home, I’ll check that out. The flaws thing is interesting, didn’t consider that.

the same strata vein runs through to the gun club sites, the old pistol site has a dam that is full of shale, with trilobites in it – only good for collectors, not any good for cleaning up. London bridge has some interesting fossils too, I have seen a worm fossil, the segments are clearly visible, but it was lost in the fires. (rubble from the property included a very good mineral collection)

Woolshed Creek fossils are from teh same reef/source as my fossil! And yes, they’re there. Tehy put chicken wire over them many years ago. They stick up out of the creek bed.

Thanks, Peter@home, I’ll check that out. The flaws thing is interesting, didn’t consider that.

There are apparently very good fossils in the rock in Woolshed Creek just next to the bridge on Fairbairn Ave. Its protected by a Heritage Order though.

More details are available here http://www.tams.act.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0018/13077/183.pdf

araluen was originally noted for gold deposits, but there are a couple of strange sites in and around canberra – ginninderra creek, near the wooden bridge, if it still stands, been a while, heading on the other side of the bridge towards holt, there are a few pieces of fools gold (pyrites) in the creek gravel – never thought to pan it for gold, but pyrites is usually found with gold.

Murrumbidgee corridor – opal, non precious.
there are several white quartz veins in road cuttings around canberra, interesting for the potential gold or crystals that may be there.

There are several sites in the nsw region, easy reach from canberra, these include:
Bredbo – the alluvial sand under the bridge has very small rubies, zircon, sapphires and traces of gold.
Wee Jasper – sapphires and quartz crystals
grabben gullen (really its name) – sapphires
abercrombie caves – gold and sapphires in the stream running out of the cave. Forget going in winter, you lose feeling in your toes just by putting them in the water.

the snow fields are out, kiandra was a gold area, but it is a national park now and off-limits…

ant said :

2 post nutbag… before this article slides off the end of the table (jeez riotact is busy now!), how do you drill holes in bits of rock? I’ve got various things I’d quite like to add to jewellery, but what tool do you use to make a hole through the stuff?

a diamond drill is quite good for your requirement, however, I would be inclined to call the lapidary club (you don’t need to join) & ask for their advice. They may have someone who works in beading, they could do the work for you. Sometimes they will ask for a fee, but most cases this is negligible. they may also be able to advise whether the item will withstand drilling, as some items will shatter if there are existing flaws in the stone, or the rock may not be sufficiently hard enough to drill.

2 post nutbag… before this article slides off the end of the table (jeez riotact is busy now!), how do you drill holes in bits of rock? I’ve got various things I’d quite like to add to jewellery, but what tool do you use to make a hole through the stuff?

There’s some good stuff in Canberra. years ago, we installed a possibly dodgy stand-alone dunny in the back paddock, and had to dig a massively deep hole for the poo to go in. I have a wonderful fossil from that, which is just like the cliff rocks at the south coast, with a sea shell imprint in it.

There’s quite a few gold areas around here too, Majors Creek and Captains Flat etc, just look at all the quartz rocks around.